Executive Members
Sarah Numan - General Manager & Principal Caster - Sarah (founder of Baby Loss NZ) has 9 children including 4 angels, Hope-Dominique, Noah James, Willow and Ebony. Sarah founded Baby Loss NZ in April 2008 and by 2012, using her passion for memory making, began the implementation of our Care Bags being distributed nationwide. Sarah works tirelessly - between 70-80 hours each week making sure that as many families in the Manukau region are aware of the services Baby Loss NZ provide. Most of Sarah's hours are spent directly with parents and our Active Parenting/Memory Making service - providing the parents with tangible memories of their baby.
Josie Apelu - Chairperson & Principal Caster/Photographer - Josie joined our committee in 2010 and has a real passion and dedication for helping bereaved parents. Despite working full time as head of food technology at a local college, Josie will often work through the night alongside Sarah making tangible memories for families. Josie is an advocate for increasing understanding of cultural awareness & cultural competency and has presented her Pacifica workshop at the Sands NZ National conference 2012, Sands NZ National Training 2013 and TAHA (Welbeing Pacific Mother & Infant service) at their first Māori and Pacific maternal and infant forum in 2013. She has 2 living children and 2 angels, Bennett and Sage.
Committee Members
Janelle Chambers - Secretary - As soon as I saw the opportunity to join the Baby Loss committee I jumped at the chance. In November 2020 My partner and I lost our twins, Eddie and Harlan due to premature birth. The Baby Loss Team were the shining light in our darkest time and it seemed right to be able to give back to this organisation so they can continue their good work
Shaynee Riley - Treasurer - Kia Ora, my name is Shaynee and I have been apart of Baby Loss New-Zealand for two years.I joined the team after hearing about the amazing work they did in the most heart-breaking times. I lost a baby when I was younger and due to the circumstances I didn’t get the chance to create memories, so I was eager to help others who had to experience the heart break of losing their much loved baby or child. I am beyond proud to be apart of this team.
Melissa Colson - Fundraising & Events Coordinator - Hi my name is Melissa. I have just moved from Auckland to Taupo. I first heard about Baby Loss NZ earlier this year when my work colleague Leah and her husband lost their precious boy Noah James. Not long after the passing of Noah I decided to follow Baby Loss NZ on Facebook. The amazing work Sarah does just blew me away. When I saw Sarah put the call out for committee members I just knew I needed to be a part of this community. My role is Fundraising/Events Co-ordinator. So keep an eye on this space as we work towards increasing our fundraising events across the calendar year (with some real epic opportunities to WIN some awesome prizes).
Leah Sutton - General Committee - I first learned about Baby Loss NZ in May 2021 when my three day old son sadly died. The care box, precious hand and foot castings and the compassion we received from Baby Loss NZ was everything we never knew we needed at the worst time of our lives. From the day we picked up Noah James' hand and foot castings, I knew I wanted to be involved and help Baby Loss NZ to continue their beautiful and important work, which is why I joined the committee.
Anna Nicholson - General Committee - Hi, I’m Anna I’m so pleased and honoured to be apart of such an amazing charity. I'm very passionate about creating awareness for Baby Loss NZ and baby loss/miscarriage. I have 2 angel babies and found very little support out there which is something that needs to change. I am hoping on this journey I can make a difference for those who have suffered a loss xxx
Jennifer Pene - General Committee - I joined the committee to help in anyway I can, to help bring awareness to Baby Loss. Also for my own personal healing I find doing this mahi helps with my journey.
Branch Members
Leonie Mcpherson - Tokoroa to Thames - Leonie had been supporting bereaved families since 2006 when she joined our team in 2013. Having had 10 pregnancies with 3 living children, her journey includes having to make the heartbreaking choice of interrupting 2 of her pregnancies. Leonie supports families from Tokoroa through to Thames.
Emma Hawkins - Christchurch - My name is Emma Hawkins . I am originally from the UK and moved here in 2004. I am the Volunteer caster for Christchurch and have been with Baby Loss NZ for just over 4 yrs. I often get asked "why do you work for BLNZ" - my why started 20 years ago but I am still reminded of my journey everyday. My husband and I lost 8 babies to miscarriage before anyone looked into why it kept happening. Every loss at any stage of life leaves scars on your heart and I know, and feel the pain it causes . I truly believe in being able to provide a tactile tangible memory to acknowledge the life lost, and to comfort the parents, caregivers and friends . My why is because I do not wish the pain loss causes on anyone . I believe and hope the service I am privileged to be a part of, helps and comforts in some small way by providing casts of little hands and feet to keep forever.